Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

Never thought about it. There's got to be some backstory to your post, though. Please share.

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

They have to be self important, because everyone else shits on them.

JamesH wrote:Never thought about it. There's got to be some backstory to your post, though. Please share.

So I'm at a bar...at a hotel...in Charlotte, I drink too much lately, and he sits next to me. I'm a non-social person so I am ignoring him but, he chats up the old crusty southerner on his left and starts in about Obama and liberals yadda yadda. Well the old hick says that Obama is a Mooslim with a secret agenda to destroy this country, oy vey, strike one our pilot agrees. Then they go on about the health care bill and other nonsense. The pilot did have 2 points I agreed with, he believes in global warming and thinks Al Jazeera is a reliable news source. I was at the bar for a total of 40 minutes, which is an all time record for me. Besides the bar food and beer making my cardiologist cringe, their topic of conversation was doing wonders on my blood pressure.

Just like anything else, you get all types.

Just as an example, my BIL is a pilot now for United (used to be Continental). Pilots get to pick and trade their flights, at least for United. My BIL schedules his flights for more frequent, short-distance flights, so he is at home with the kids as much as he can. Another pilot he knows trades his flights for 4-day trips, so he is away from his family as much as possible.

Another thing, what is it with republicans and cigars? This guy was going on and on about them, I swear they just want something long and brown in their mouth

My sister's an airline pilot...she doesn't like cigars or republicans. I know nothing about her asshole, but I do know that when she is driving the bus, she is pretty important indeed...when not, she's just my sister.

I saw a survey recently of airline pilots' pay.

The ones who work for the biggest airlines do OK, but those who fly for the regional airlines have long hours for shit pay. Especially considering the amount of training and responsibility they have.

How do you know if a pilot is in the room? Easy, he'll tell you.

I don't give a rat's ass how much of an asshole a pilot (or surgeon for that matter) is on the ground...I just want them to be the best fucking pilot on earth when I or someone I love is in the back of the bus...

I'm only acquainted with one pilot (regional airline). When I first met him it seemed we got a long pretty well, we liked guns, talked about military stuff. But about a year later, some weird tea-bagger stuff starts coming out from him that I found surprising. Which in itselft was no big deal, as has been said, as long as he parks the damned planes safely.

Xela

I was a pilot for a major airline for about 8 years. Some serious right wingers in that group, but I think it may depend on the region. You'd be having a good time chatting it up and then the crazy shit would start coming out.

That said, most were great guys with a healthy sense of humility and didn't like assholes, but every group's got 'em.

To be honest, I still can't get my mind around how you can be getting along great with someone, then you find out they think your politics are anti-American tyrannical fascist communism. Yes all those things at the same time. It's fucking insane.

(reposted verbatim to select "notify")

AmirMortal wrote:How do you know if a pilot is in the room? Easy, he'll tell you.

woops

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

I think the investment banking crowd might have them beat.

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

What statistical sample size did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Does your research include investment bankers, trial lawyers, and high profile surgeons?

SwampGrouch wrote:

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

What statistical sample size did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Does your research include investment bankers, trial lawyers, and high profile surgeons?

1 bar, 1 pilot. What more statistical proof does one need?

Xela

I have my airline transport pilot certificate, flight engineer reciprocating certificate, flight instructor certificate, and ground instructor certificate. I have flight engineered on DC6s in the remote bush areas of Alaska, but most of my pilot time is small singles and twins also flying the AK bush. You find hard core left and right wingers as well as a poop load of moderates in those fields. I guess it is the same with every profession.

Xela wrote:

SwampGrouch wrote:

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

What statistical sample size did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Does your research include investment bankers, trial lawyers, and high profile surgeons?

1 bar, 1 pilot. What more statistical proof does one need?

Xela

LMFAO

I have a friend who is a pilot. He's one of the nicest guys you will meet.

I have a bunch of friends who are Democrats and they love a good cigar. Hell, I'd smoke cigars if my wife would let be back into the house afterwards.

Not all pilots are assholes. Not all cigar smokers are Republicans.

Just like not all gun owners are teabaggers....

SwampGrouch wrote:

whitey wrote:Is it me or are these guys the most self important assholes on the planet?

What statistical sample size did you use to arrive at this conclusion?

Does your research include investment bankers, trial lawyers, and high profile surgeons?

I'm going with lawyers being the most self-important a-holes. Not just trial lawyers. Lawyers. I rented an apartment from one and I was in a relationship with a different one. So two is my sample size. And I didn't like either one in the end. And I now project that on all lawyers. And it'll be tough to change my opinion. So sue me. It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

I'm going with surgeons...specifically ophthalmic surgeons...

And I still don't give-a-shit how arrogant they are...if they're in my eye, I want them to be what they claim to be. I don't have to like them or socialize with them.

And as far as pilots go, the most arrogant of the bunch that I have encountered are Navy F-18 pilots. But then, anyone with the guts to land on a moving - pitching postage stamp in the middle of the night has earned bragging rights from my point of view.

And for the record, I have 4...count 'em...4 hours in the left seat of a Piper Seminole...so I know! (I'll never do that again)

rolandson wrote:I'm going with surgeons...specifically ophthalmic surgeons...

And I still don't give-a-shit how arrogant they are...if they're in my eye, I want them to be what they claim to be. I don't have to like them or socialize with them.

And as far as pilots go, the most arrogant of the bunch that I have encountered are Navy F-18 pilots. But then, anyone with the guts to land on a moving - pitching postage stamp in the middle of the night has earned bragging rights from my point of view.

And for the record, I have 4...count 'em...4 hours in the left seat of a Piper Seminole...so I know! (I'll never do that again)

I know a handful of pilots well, but between my wife's work and mine I know lots of MDs/DOs and plenty of lawyers. Not all JDs and MDs/DOs are arrogant bastards, but the ones that are really set the bar high. And they were usually jocks in high school. So, yes, I can see some fighter jocks maxing out on the AB Scale.

I guess every field has 'em.

How about people who have no credentials whatsoever, and are arrogant assholes? I almost envy them for their amount of ballsiness. I had a friend like that. Once...